Ranma ½

Chapter 10

Strength Within Your Soul

Disclaimer: I don't own this series or any other series. I am just floating an idea. I am making no money, nor plan to, off this venture. If you think of suing me over this, then grow up.

I would like to first personally thank all of those reviewing my stories. I enjoy reading your comments, and try to correct the grammatical errors I miss with my final read-through as well as my spell checkers. The suggestions you all make will help make this story better for everyone to enjoy, as well as allow my to fix some plot holes I may unintentionally leave.

I find that if I let things sit for a while in my head; I can play them out farther. Plus by trying and keeping my chapters between 2500 and 3000 words, it helps keep me from making the story slide out of control, turning a diamond to a pile of shit.

I also plan to start sending these out to have someone else proofread them before I post them. Volunteers are welcome. I have found a website #ranma1) where the moves have been listed. If I spell them incorrectly, then I apologize, as this is my guide.

If you need help, have questions about why my plot is turning out a certain way, or would like some help to bust through your own writer's block or write a new story on your own, tell me either through e-mail or reviews. I'm glad to help when I can.

Now, on with the show.

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Nabiki was in her room, fresh from her bath. Dinner had been finished about three hours ago, followed by a sparring session between her and Ranma. Afterwards, she had spent some time in the bathroom, trying to soak her sore muscles, before finally coming up here. She had laid down on her bed, raising her hands in front of her.

Damn it! I was hoping after the fusion I would have gotten a little bit stronger, but I didn't think it would be this little. I mean, I mastered the Kachü Tenshin Amaguriken, which even Ranma hasn't done yet, and I am still only slightly less powerful than Akane, and that's just because she has all of that brute strength. I know I've only been training for a week in this time, but still, you think a little of my training from the future would have carried over. But all I seem to have gotten was the memories, not the talents.

Ryoga is showing up tomorrow, which means him and Ranma will have their fight. I might be fast enough to avoid those bandanas and hit belt, but I would have to use all of my ki just to lift that damn umbrella of his. I could tell Ranma before the fight that Ryoga has a Jusenkyo curse, but I can't read auras yet as a reason of how I know. Maybe I could accidentally douse the lunatic with cold water.

I could set him up with Akane, since those two seemed to end up together in the end, but he will still be blaming Ranma for everything, especially if Akane gets as violent with him as she was with Ranma. She certainly had no problems showing her feelings for P-chan. But still, I need to keep both of them occupied, so they can let Ranma be relaxed, at least until I take them to the mountains for training in the Bakusai Tenketsu. I need to keep them as rivals so that they can both get stronger, or otherwise they might get killed against Herb or even Saffron.

I won't play the part of the helpless damsel like Akane ended up doing, either because she didn't want to be trained, or because Ranma doesn't want to hurt girls.

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Three hours earlier...

Nabiki had been sparring with Ranma for a little less than three minutes. Even with the help of the Kachü Tenshin Amaguriken, she still was unable to land a single punch. Instead, the now girl Ranma constantly dodged her attacks, weaving and jumping around Nabiki.

"DAMN IT!" screamed Akane. "How do you plan on training her if you won't fight back?"

Nabiki had recognized this too, and was quite annoyed that Ranma was ignoring her attempts to get better, even if he wasn't mouthing off to her how he was better. "Ranma, can we stop for a minute, I want to show you something."

Ranma relaxed herself. "Um, OK."

Nabiki went behind her, lightly touching a point on her back, causing Ranma to fall to the ground.

"What the hell!? My legs are numb!"

Nabiki walked back in front of the paralyzed girl. "I don't need to be faster than you Ranma, or even stronger, I just need to fight smarter. You left your guard down, and like my sister pointed out, you weren't taking me seriously as a martial artist. All I needed to do was get behind you and hit a shiatsu point on your back, paralyzing your legs."

"But I don't hit girls."

"Why?" Nabiki asked.

"Because I'm supposed to protect the weak."

Nabiki shook her head. "Ranma, I am not weak. I may not be as strong as your guy side, or even as fast as your girl side, but I am far from weak, as some guys found out in the park today. The point is that you claim to be the best, but do nothing to prove it is earned."

Ranma stared up at her, anger in her face. "But I am the best!" Ranma fell backwards as Nabiki sent a punch at her, stopping before she hit Ranma's head.

"Then explain how I, someone not even half as strong or fast as you defeated you just now."

"Because you tricked me."

Nabiki shook her head. "I merely took advantage of an opening, the fact that you didn't take me seriously as a fighter. You think you're the best Ranma, but there will always be someone out there better than you are in one area or another. My sister found out first hand that just because you call yourself the best doesn't make it true, as you did just now. That type of ego will always allow you to be defeated sooner or later."

Nabiki went over to Ranma again, hitting that point and returning the use of Ranma's legs back to her. "A martial artist's first responsibility is to defend the weak, but also to train the defenseless so they may stand on their own. By simply avoiding me, you aren't helping me become stronger, but weaker. If you are half the martial artist you claim to be, you cannot allow such a thing. You don't have to go all out against me, attacking me like a common street brawler, but you still need to help me. Point out what I am doing wrong, giving me a light tap to show me where my holes in my defense are, striking me so that I can toughen myself up so that when a real threat comes against me, I can face it with pride, knowing that I am going to be better for it. Now, shall we try our little sparring session again, or do I need to remind you of your lessons?"

Ranma stood back up, rubbing her head, before rushing Nabiki. The two sparred as before, with the exception that Ranma tapped Nabiki every time she left herself open, followed by a light punch or kick for every fifth opening. Soon, the two fighters were moving faster and faster, Nabiki correcting her attacks while Ranma was upping his speed and power, forcing Nabiki to compensate, to improve. Finally, after ten minutes, Nabiki collapsed to the floor, saying she was too exhausted to continue right now. Ranma helped her to the side of the dojo, where Kasumi handed her some tea. "Thank you Ranma, for taking me seriously and helping me out."

Ranma just scratched her head, somewhat feeling better at the fact he wasn't hitting a girl, but a martial artist. "You're welcome." He turned to face Akane. "Ya wanna try now?"

Nabiki sat and watched as Akane and Ranma now sparred. He wasn't simply dodging and evading like he did their first spar, but was reacting the same as she had done for Nabiki. Nabiki watched as her little sister seemed happy, but saw she was quickly beginning to anger from being unable to land a single hit on Ranma. Not that I had been able to either. "Akane, don't let your emotions control you, control them. Don't act like Kuno."

Akane stopped fighting, turning towards her sister to angrily reply to that comment, when Ranma punched her in the stomach, forcing all her air out and bringing Akane to her knees.

Ranma was about to begin apologizing when Nabiki stopped him. "Ranma, she let herself be distracted by her emotions and by me. You have nothing to apologize for. You saw an opening and took it; there is no shame in that. Sister dear, you need to remember to control yourself. Ranma isn't like the pervert horde; she actually cares about you getting better and hates to see you in any pain. If you can't keep your emotions under control, you might end up seriously hurting someone, and I know you don't want that. You want to be the best, but if you allow your anger to keep control over you, then you will always be held back. Now when you get yourself calmed down, we will begin again. Ranma, have a seat and relax. You'll need your energy for your own katas tonight."

So the two rested while Akane fought for both her air and her control. Damn her and damn Ranma. He is holding back, and he even hit me when I wasn't ready. I should have belted the idiot. Damn it, I am the heir to the Tendo School of Anything Goes Martial Arts, why the hell is she treating me like some damn first year student?

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She had sparred with Ranma once again after Akane had lost her temper, before heading to the bathroom to soak her tired muscles. She had spent an hour in the tub before getting out; catching her bruised and tired sister getting ready to go into the bathroom, an expression of anger evident on Akane's face.

She probably blames me, thinks I am going to try and take the school from her. Not that I would want to, I just want to win Ranma's heart. But if her attitude doesn't change, if it remains like it was the last time, I might just have to. I can't allow her to dishonor the school because of her own delusions. We will not end up like the Kunos.

Damn it, her attitude will probably end up trying to drive a wedge between me and Ranma, and will lead me to having to choose.

A knock on her door brought her out of her revelry. "Come in."

She watched as the still female Ranma entered. "Thought I'd check up on ya, see if you're doin' OK."

Nabiki watched as Ranma's face turned bright red. Of course, I forgot that I'm still basically in a towel. "Ranma, I'm fine. I know I'm going to be sore as hell tomorrow, but I think I should be OK. Is there anything you want to talk about?"

She noticed Ranma had closed her eyes, seemingly holding her breath in. "Ranma, come inside and close the door, but keep your eyes closed, OK?"

Ranma did as she was told while Nabiki got up and placed on her night clothes. I should be teasing her more, but oh well. It looks like she needs to talk. I wonder why she didn't change back before coming up her. "Ok Ranma, you can open your eyes now."

Ranma opened her eyes, seeing Nabiki in a large robe with a blanket wrapped around her. Grateful she wasn't going to be forced to try and maintain a straight line of thought with a nearly naked Nabiki in the room, Ranma released the breath she didn't even know she was holding, before sitting on the ground. "Nabiki, why is your sister so mad at me? I mean, I took her seriously in that spar, but she acts like I'm still playin' with her."

Nabiki frowned a little. "She still wants to think she's the best, even when I pointed out that Kuno was holding back last week. To tell the truth, I know she is angry at boys for the morning fights she had to endure since Kuno made that stupid announcement last year. I myself am partly to blame for that, as I did nothing to stop it until you came along, even though I could have threatened enough boys to leave her alone." I wonder if I had asked to come back before that event, if maybe my sister could have become a better person. "But what has happened can't be undone." Though I myself am proving that wrong.

"There's more to it than that." Ranma looked at her quickly before returning her gaze to the floor. "She isn't just mad at me for being a boy, she's mad at me for being better than she is, and I'm helpin' her too."

Nabiki shook her head. "My sister isn't quite as logical as we would all like her to be. She always wanted to be like our father and mother. She wanted to be the best in whatever she did. But losing our mother caused her to lose interest in feminine things, and as our father drifted away, she lost the use of the art as a way to deal with things. She has been practicing the same moves we all learned for the last ten years. I guess part of her feels like our father abandoned her when she needed him the most, the truth is we all feel that way a little. Over the years, I guess the rage just built up. I know it's still no excuse for how she treats you sometimes, but I have been trying to help her with the art, with her own issues. But I feel she is beginning to resent me for my knowledge and renewed interest in the art, seeing it as a challenge to her becoming the best."

Ranma shook her head as well. "Too bad, she's got some potential. She's just too mad to use it right."

Nabiki was forced to agree. In the original time line, Akane had the potential to keep up with Ranma or Ryoga, but her anger and Ranma's refusal to teach her, believing that the only way to teach was the same, sadistic way his father had taught him, had lead to her barely tapping into her potential.

Now, in this timeline, Akane's anger was her only real obstacle. When Nabiki had agreed to teach her those moves, she had hoped her sister would use this opportunity to grow. With Ranma's help, she felt assured that Akane would become such a powerful martial artist that no evil creature or Kuno would be able to stop her. But now she saw her sister's temper not only directed at anything with a penis, but her own sister as well. Nabiki had tried both positive and negative reinforcement of Akane's need to keep herself in check, but still her sister was acting more like a spoiled princess rather than a mature, responsible adult, and Nabiki was afraid it would take her seriously hurting someone before she would gain control of herself.

"Ranma, I'm sure between the two of us, we can get her to make herself better, make herself stop being angry at everyone and everything that doesn't fit her world. Please don't give up on her."

"Ok Nabiki, I'll try."

Nabiki quickly went over to Ranma, dragging her into a tight hug, before pulling back and giving Ranma a quick kiss on the lips. "Thank you, that's all I could ask for. But you better go get cleaned up yourself and get to bed, we both have classes tomorrow. But make certain no one is in the bathroom before going in, and make certain the sign is out."

Ranma simply nodded before leaving the room, shutting the door behind her and leaning against it. She kissed me, I'm a girl now and she kissed me! She accepts me for my curse, and she kissed me! Ranma made her way to the bathroom, smiling and holding her hand against her lips, still enjoying the memory of her first kiss. Man, I'm lucky to end up with a girl like Nabiki for a fiancée. My luck, I figured I would've ended up with Akane. Ranma shivered for a little bit, dropping her hands to her side. After knocking for several minutes, she entered the bathroom and soaked, turning back into a guy.

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Nabiki made her way down to breakfast, her muscles still crying out for more rest, more sleep, more time to recuperate, but she had gotten in her desired eight hours, and in the end, she needed to be at school on-time. She came into the dining area, to her left; her sister was busy making the final touches to her usual delicious breakfasts, reminding Nabiki she would have to talk to her contacts at some of the medical colleges about getting Kasumi admitted. You won't waste your life here forever dear sister, I owe you that much for raising me.

She looked ahead to her father, reading the paper with his coffee in front of him. Dad, I know you care for us, but you still need to grow up. I know you and Genma are trying to come up with some ideas to hurry up the marriage between Ranma and myself, though I doubt you're doing it because Genma has told you about Ranma's other fiancées. Come to think of it, you only slightly yelled at Genma when they arrived, like you didn't care as long as Ranma married Akane. Do you really care so little about us that you would allow that panda's dishonor to fall on us, fall on Ranma? Then again, you never worried about the fact that Happosai groped us. Maybe you really died as well as mom, and I am just now starting to see that.

Then she turned to look outside, watching as Genma and Ranma had their usual morning spar. She watched as the two went all out, trying to knock the other one senseless, with the exception of Genma trying to knock Ranma into the coi pond so he could call him a weak girl. When he eventually did, Nabiki ran out to Genma, striking him with the Kachü Tenshin Amaguriken and sending him into the wall, creating several spider cracks. "Well this weak little girl just sent you flying into a wall, so what weak little creature does that make you?"

She didn't get to hear his answer, as Ranma splashed him with a bucket of pond water. "Don't bother answerin' pops, everyone knows pandas are too stupid ta answer."

The two went inside and sat at the table together Kasumi pouring a cup of hot water over Ranma to revert him back into a guy. Genma followed in a few minutes, taking the tea kettle offered by Kasumi and pouring the boiling water over himself. "Miss Tendo, you should not interfere in our morning spars, you might end up hurt."

She just shook her head. "Mr. Saotome, sometimes I get the feeling that you'd rather be bounding around town, grabbing women's underwear chanting about collecting your lovelies."

She laughed as her father choked on his coffee while Genma's face went completely white at a seemingly perfect description of Happosai. Her revelry was cut short as Kasumi came in with breakfast, followed by a sweaty Akane who had just returned from her morning jog. Kasumi had asked her what was so funny, but she merely said it was the reactions of their fathers, and that maybe they would like to explain why her comment was taken so funnily. Both men said it was nothing, and they continued to eat breakfast. Nabiki, who sat between Ranma and his father, pulled out a knife and imbedded it into the table between Genma and herself, having seen the man's hands inch closer to her own plate. "Mr. Saotome, Ranma mentioned some of the speed training you two did while eating, and I do hope you do not plan to continue it here, we eat in a civilized manner, with more than enough for everyone here, unless of course you enjoy trying to steal food away from people sitting next to you."

"Of course not," said Genma, upset that she had not only stopped him from trying to steal some of her food, but also from trying to steal Ranma's for the rest of their stay. "The boy should merely keep up his practice, or he might get rusty."

"Then maybe you should be eating instead of paying attention to me, it appears my father has just proven his speed with your plate."

Genma looked down at his bare plate, noticing that Soun had cleaned it off while he wasn't looking. As he was asking Kasumi for more food, the kids had managed to finish their meals and headed upstairs to get ready for school, only one of them knowing what was supposed to happen at lunch today, with still no idea how she could keep it from becoming a powder keg like it had last time.

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If I messed anything up, then let me know including typos.

Any suggestions on how I should continue the story or improve it would also be accepted.

Also, if you have any suggestions for how this should go, let me know. My own imagination, while vast, always enjoys a new thought. Also, catch me if you don't think I am making the characters true to form, or a way to make them better.